Chuck Swindoll on Staying Out of God's Way

About this sermon

What does it look like to actually get out of God's way? In this conversation, Chuck Swindoll and Greg Laurie unpack a simple but convicting idea: "stay low, stay surprised, stay out of the way." Chuck reflects on how God plans not just the outcome but the depth and length of every test we go through — and how the right response isn't to promote ourselves through it, but to stay quietly amazed that God would use us at all. Chuck shares two moments where he almost got in his own way: refusing to do radio ("I don't even listen to Christian radio") and refusing to write his first book ("I don't do books") — until others pushed him past his own resistance. Looking back, he's clear about who deserves the credit: "we don't need agents, we don't need big-time people out front, we don't need to promote our own stuff." God takes care of that. That same principle plays out in the story of David — pulled from tending sheep and anointed as future king, yet sent right back to the sheepfold instead of treated like royalty. Chuck and Greg trace David's years of being chased, criticized, and tested by Saul as part of God's preparation for leadership, landing on the phrase that's become a favorite of Chuck and Cynthia's: "stay at it." This is a conversation about humility, timing, and trusting God to promote what He wants promoted — in His own time. Timestamps: 0:00 – God plans the depth and length of every test 1:08 – "Stay surprised” 1:54 – Saying no to radio 2:48 – Saying no to writing his first book 4:15 – Never dreaming he'd become a writer 5:45 – "We don't need agents" — staying out of the way 6:15 – David: from the sheepfold to the throne 7:35 – Learning to lead through opposition 8:01 – "Stay at it” #ChuckSwindoll #GregLaurie #Faith #ChristianTestimony #Ministry 🌐 Sign up for Pastor Chuck's daily devotional and explore our various resources at https://www.insight.org ❔ Have questions about following Jesus or about the Bible? We'd love to help you. Please visit https://www.insight.org/connect/faqs/biblical-counseling 📲 Take Pastor Chuck's resources with you on our Insight for Living app! - Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/IFLappleapp - Google Play: https://bit.ly/IFLPlay 🎧 Listen to Pastor Chuck Swindoll on . . . YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLteVs-tVfPH8ffZKyrqgAJVXNbutlHyOd&feature=shared Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/IFLapple Spotify: https://bit.ly/IFLspotify TuneIn: https://bit.ly/IFLTuneIn PodBean: https://bit.ly/IFLpodbean Podbay: https://bit.ly/IFLpodbay 📻 You can also find the radio stations that are airing our Insight for Living broadcast at the bottom of this page: https://insight.org/broadcasts/station-finder 📱 Pastor Chuck Swindoll's social media: Facebook: https://bit.ly/SwindollFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckrswindoll/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/chuckswindoll 📱 Insight for Living, the Swindoll's international Bible-teaching ministry, social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insightforlivingministries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightforlivingministries/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/IFL_USA 🤝 Insight for Living operates only on generous gifts and donations. We would be honored to have your support in providing this practical and accurate Bible teaching to those around the world. If you feel led to partner with us, you can visit https://give.insight.org/ or you can watch this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga9nwCtp5bU Copyright © 2025 Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (CRS, Inc.) All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited.